UAE envoy Sheikh Shakhboot meets Mnangagwa as trade with Zimbabwe hits US$7bn

UAE envoy Sheikh Shakhboot meets Mnangagwa as trade with Zimbabwe hits US$7bn

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HARARE — United Arab Emirates diplomat Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan on Saturday morning paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare, as Zimbabwe and the UAE continue to expand bilateral ties in trade, investment and tourism.

The visit comes amid what officials described as rapidly growing economic engagement between the two countries, with talks focusing on trade diversification and attracting more UAE investment into sectors such as tourism and infrastructure.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Amon Murwira, said trade between the two countries had grown strongly in the last two years, adding that diplomatic relations remain “excellent”.

“Zimbabwe and UAE have excellent relations, number one. Number two, our trade figures have grown astronomically for the past two years by 74%,” Murwira said. “Our economic linkages with UAE, between Zimbabwe and UAE, are excellent.”

He said Sheikh Shakhboot’s visit was aimed at updating Mnangagwa on the state of economic and diplomatic relations between Harare and Abu Dhabi.

“So, His Excellency Shakhboot was paying a visit to His Excellency the President Dr. ED Mnangagwa to update about the state of our economic relations and update on the state of our diplomatic relations, which can be characterized as excellent,” Murwira said.

According to information shared during the engagement, Zimbabwe and the UAE now have a trade relationship estimated at about US$7 billion, with efforts under way to widen trade beyond minerals and grow value in other areas of the economy.

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Murwira said Zimbabwe and the UAE are also working towards concluding a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, which he described as a free trade agreement between the two countries.

“We are looking forward to the completion of our comprehensive economic partnership agreement, which is a free trade agreement between Zimbabwe and UAE and everything is on course,” he said.

Officials also highlighted tourism as a key sector for future UAE investment, with Victoria Falls being positioned as one of the priority destinations for new projects.

Government has in recent years encouraged foreign investment into tourism facilities, transport links and related infrastructure, as part of broader efforts to boost visitor numbers and grow employment.

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